Bar has been raised at Waynesburg
The expectations have changed.
Waynesburg Central High School football coach Aaron Giorgi has made sure everyone who plays a part in the program knows it.
“Making the playoffs is the bar now,” said Giorgi who led the Raiders back to the WPIAL Class AA playoffs in 2023 after going winless in 10 games just the season before.
Waynesburg won its first four games last season and finished 3-3 in the Class 2A Century Conference to finish fourth and earn a postseason berth. The Raiders went 7-4 last season and lost to Imani Christian in the opening round of the payoffs.
“Our goal is to continue building for the playoffs,” Giorgi said. “Last year was a good turning point for the program moving forward.”
The Raiders’ four wins to open the season was the first time the program achieved that since 2000.
While the Century Conference has a different look this season, Waynesburg figures to contend for one of the four postseason berths.
The Raiders return talented senior quarterback and strong safety Jacob Stephenson (6-2, 200). In all, Waynesburg returns 15 starters.
Other returning starters are senior Vince Maley (6-4, 260), a two-way lineman; sophomore Jack Ricciuti (6-4, 205), a wide receiver-outside linebacker; junior Jeffrey Blair (5-10, 180), a wide receiver-middle linebacker; sophomore Caden Fowler (6-3, 225), offensive lineman-defensive end; junior Zachery Jiblits (5-6, 150), receiver-safety; sophomore Ross Tennant (5-9, 175) running back cornerback; sophomore Teagen Crouse (5-8, 155) receiver-quarterback-cornerback; senior
Sawyer Haynes (5-9, 150), outside linebacker; senior Ethan Kiger (5-8, 160) wide receiver-linebacker; junior Dane Woods (6-3, 210) receiver-linebacker; sophomores Grant Pack (5-10, 150) guard-linebacker and Andy Mahle (6-0, 210) guard-defensive tackle; senior Dalton Taylor (6-3, 165) placekicker-punter and junior Mason Mankey (5-10, 165) running back-defensive back.
Top newcomers, according to Giorgi include junior Jackson Fisher (5-11, 220), a two-way lineman; and sophomores Taylor Sproat, 6-2, 185-pound two-way lineman and wide receiver-outside linebacker Ace Litwinovich (6-1, 185).
That group should off-set the losses of running back-free safety Breydon Woods, receiver-linebacker Coly Pauley and two-way lineman Layden Haynes.
Woods led the Raiders to their first playoff berth since 2014 rushing for1,316 yards. He caught 15 passes and scored 14 touchdowns. Woods had a pair of 200-yard rushing games, including 271 against Charleroi. He was the Offensive Player of the Year in the Century Conference
“We lost some guys but have a lot of returners,” Giorgi said. “Jake threw for more than 1,000 yards last season. Crouse and Jiblits will be much more involved in the passing game. Maley and Fowler are bookend tackles.
“Jeff Blair moves in at middle linebacker and he’s a hard hitter.”
Waynesburg will compete in a new-look Century Conference. The Raiders will compete against Carlynton, Charleroi, Keystone Oaks, Seton LaSalle, Sto-Rox and Washington. Gone are McGuffey and Brentwood. The Cougars and Rebels are new to the conference.
Seton LaSalle and Washington are considered top contenders with Keystone Oaks and Waynesburg as solid postseason threats.
Waynesburg opens its season against Class A West Greene. The balance of its schedule includes away games with Class A California, Washington, highly regarded Steel Valley and Charleroi with home games against Jefferson-Morgan, Seton LaSalle, Carlynton, Keystone Oaks and Sto-Rox.
“Our team strength is our diverse athletic ability,” Giorgi. “We have a lot of skill with guys who can do multiple things. We have a lot of guys who we’d like to get the ball in their hands. Those guys can do special things.”